Heritage

Since the first day I opened the records for the village of Maia on Sao Miguel Island, Azores, I was aware that there were two Braga families. One was mine. The other family went by Braga Serra. They seemed to be two completely different families. So, I followed mine and ignored the others. That turned…

Everyone is talking about DNA Painter, a tool that helps you find connections between your DNA matches. I finally decided to see what it was all about. I believe I am addicted. How do you use this nifty utility? You enter your match’s chromosome data into into the “painter” and it “paints” the sequence. The…

On Memorial Day, we reflect on those who went to war, but did not come home. They gave their lives to protect our freedoms. They families mourn their loses every day. We take this one day to reflect on what that sacrifice means. Today, I’d like to recall some of the people in my family…

My Dad’s maternal aunt is an intriguing figure in my family tree. She was a French immigrant coming to America in the early 1900s. She never married and never had children. She may have played a small role aiding the US in World War I. The Woman Known as Tante Marie Marie Alexine Lassalle was…

I don’t know why Magdelaine Mazeres left France for America. She arrived in the late 1870s, a single woman, navigating the bustling city of San Francisco alone. She ended up in a bad situation. Would she survive the challenges ahead of her as a single parent alone in the city? Let’s find out. Here is…